The CUPID neutrinoless double-beta decay experiment

Abstract

Neutrinoless double-beta decay (0νββ) is a key process to address some of the major outstanding issues in particle physics, such as the lepton number conservation and the Majorana nature of the neutrino. The next-generation of experiments aims at covering the Inverted-Ordering region of the neutrino mass spectrum, with sensitivities on the half-lives greater than 1027 years. Among the exploited techniques, low-temperature calorimetry has proved to be a very promising one, and will keep its leading role in the future thanks to the CUPID experiment. CUPID will search for the neutrinoless double-beta decay of 100Mo. By deploying Li2MoO4 scintillating crystals enriched in 100Mo and cryogenic light detectors, CUPID will perform simultaneous readout of heat and light signals, allowing for particle identification, and thus a powerful rejection technique for α background. To meet the new sensitivity target, the CUORE readout system must be upgraded. The readout system for each channel will consist of a pre-amplifier, a Programmable Gain Amplifier (PGA), a low-pass filter (Bessel filter) and a Digital AcQuisition System (DAQ). Finally, there is a pulser to generate thermal stabilization energy in the crystals. The motivation and expected performance of the technical upgrades are described in the context of the goals of the CUPID experiment.